WASHINGTON (May 13, 2015)—Congressman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, chairman of the Ways and Means subcommittee on health, has announced that the subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, “Improving Competition in Medicare: Removing Moratoria and Expanding Access.”

AAHomecare is pleased to announce that Robert Steedley, president of Barnes Healthcare Services and chairman of the AAHomecare board of directors has been formally invited to appear before the Committee.

The hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 19, 2015, in Room 1100 of the Longworth House office building on Capitol Hill, beginning at 10 a.m. The timing of the hearing coincides with the AAHomecare Washington Legislative Conference, giving the AAHomecare board of directors the opportunity to attend the hearing in person.

Steedley's testimony will highlight the problems of the current competitive bidding program and recommend a sound, budget neutral alternative—the Market Pricing Program for Home Medical Equipment—which is a proposal supported by committee member and longtime HME champion Congressman Price, R—Ga.

"I am pleased to share my experience with the Medicare competitive bidding program and make recommendations on how Congress can create a state-of-the art auction program that achieves market pricing, is sustainable over the long term, will not reduce quality and access to home medical equipment and can be used as a model for other sectors of healthcare," said Steedley.